I would def be asking exactly what you get for your £30...
If it's a "check and replace if necessary", it could be:
set to cold
is it blowing cold?
yep, everything is fine
£30 please
It's a long time since I've had a car for more than 2 years (company car policy), but that seems like a very short time...
this thread from a company who specialise in car air con (bearing in mind they exist to charge you money for the service)
Car Air Conditioning - Keepcool Mobile Service
Quote:
How do I know when its time for my air conditioning to be charged? - Questions to ask yourself
- How old is my car?
Normally you would not need to recharge your system for approximately 4 years from new. After that, every 2 to3 years depending on usage.
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Car Air Conditioning Regas, Refrigerant Recovery Evacuation, AirConditioningforCars.co.uk
Quote:
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A more usual time for the first recharge would be around four years. R12 systems will usually last slightly longer than R134a systems as the R12 molecule is larger and the type of oil used with R12 provides a better seal on the compressor shaft I believe. However although R12 systems lose their charge more slowly than R134a systems this is offset by the fact that is more important for R12 systems not have a low charge as if moisture enters the system (as it can with a low charge) this will mix with R12 to create acids within the system which will do no good at all and will start to corrode the system from the inside. A good rule of thumb would be to recharge a new car after no more than four years and then to recharge at three-year intervals.
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that said, it would appear that the 'normal' cost of an air con service is more like £60 plus, so perhaps the £30 is a good deal afterall...